DEVELOPMENT OF A BABY DURING SECOND TRIMESTER

THE SECOND TRIMESTER

Pregnant woman

13TH WEEK: The voice cords begin to develop, the kidneys can now produce urine, and the baby is able to swallow amniotic fluid. The vernix caseosa, which protects the skin, allows the baby's lanugo to begin growing. The baby is Peach-sized.

14TH WEEK: The genitalia are fully formed, the liver produces bile, and the thyroid glands produce hormones. The infant is about as big as a lemon.

15TH WEEK: Your baby's skin is extremely thin, showing signs of growing blood vessels; ossification of the bones begins; the ears and eyes are gradually shifting to their proper positions on the baby's face and head. Your infant is the size of an orange's navel.

16TH WEEK: The heart rate is between 150 and 180 beats per minute, taste buds and pores are growing with the bones and muscles still developing. Hairs appear on the eye brows, upper lip, and chin. At this point, your baby might feel like a fluttering butterfly that is the size of an avocado, measuring 5 inches (from crown to rump), weighing 5 ounces (144 grammes), and moving.

Second trimester

17TH WEEK: The face, neck, breast, stomach wall, back, shoulders, arms, legs, and chest are all growing adipose and fat tissues. Babies can perform sucking motions and swallow, whereas their bones and muscles are still developing. Baby is roughly the size of an onion.

18TH WEEK: Myelin, a mixture of protein and lipid that aids in protecting nerve cells and enables the transmission of messages in the nervous system, begins to form. Your baby’s sex can be determined and it is the size of a sweet potato.

19TH WEEK: More vernix caseosa is deposited on the baby's skin, which facilitates in the baby's passage through the birth canal, prevents infection, assists in controlling body temperature, moisturises the baby's skin, and aids in wound healing. One may see the baby's scalp hair. Its size is comparable to a mango.

20TH WEEK: The male testicles are still inside the abdomen and the female egg cells are still developing before giving birth. The eccrine sweat gland starts to form, and bile is produced by the gallbladder to aid with digestion. The baby is the size of a banana.

Second trimester

21ST WEEK: The digestive system continues to grow and develop; the small intestine lengthens and absorbs nutrients with the help of the pancreatic enzymes that help with food digestion. While the bone marrow gets ready to take over, the liver creates the majority of the red blood cells. The infant is roughly pomegranate size.

22ND WEEK: The eyelids are closed but the eyes can still move, while the brows and tear ducts are still developing. Your infant can suckle his thumbs and respond to noises and other external cues. Additionally, brown fats are created to keep the infant warm. The baby is the size of a papaya.

23RD WEEK: Your baby is now so active that you can really feel it move thanks to strong muscles that have developed in response to light stimuli. The baby is the size of a grapefruit and the brain is growing.

24TH WEEK: The lungs, branches, and cells that produce surfactant begin to develop. The baby can hear sounds and has separated eyelids. Due to fat deposits, your baby currently weighs 24 ounces (665 grammes) and is continuing to gain weight quickly. It is the size of a cantaloupe.

Second trimester

25TH WEEK: Your baby's kicks can be felt and seen because they are getting stronger; lanugo, a soft, fine hair, can be seen on the forehead; and the bone marrow takes over the primary role of producing blood cells. The sense of smell has been developed and is active. The baby is the size of a cauliflower.

Second trimester

LISTEN TO THE AUDIO PODCAST

MY PREGNANCY JOURNEY is a highly recommended journal to keep records for future references. Purchase your downloadable pregnancy journal.

BUY NOW

Pregnancy e-journal